UN chief warns Middle East conflict is moving toward wider regional war

WASHINGTON: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday warned that the crisis in the Middle East was expanding toward a broader regional war, urging the United States and Israel to stop hostilities and calling on Iran to end attacks on neighbouring countries.

Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters, Guterres said the conflict had entered its second month and that the humanitarian toll was worsening with each passing day. He said the continuation of the war was increasing suffering, destruction and risks beyond the immediate battlefield.

Every day this war continues, human suffering grows. The scale of devastation grows. Indiscriminate attacks grow. The targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure grows. And the perils to our world grow.

He warned that the region was approaching a dangerous threshold.

We are on the edge of a wider war that would engulf the whole Middle East with dramatic impacts around the globe.

Guterres said the consequences of the conflict were already being felt outside the region, particularly through threats to maritime security. He pointed to the impact of restrictions on freedom of navigation and said disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz were affecting vulnerable populations far from the Middle East.

Look no further than the impact of the denial of freedom of navigation. When the Strait of Hormuz is strangled, the world’s poorest and most vulnerable cannot breathe.

According to the UN chief, such disruptions were contributing to higher food and energy prices in countries including the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Mozambique.

He said that while several elements of the conflict remained uncertain, the effects of further escalation were clear. Guterres cautioned that if the current trajectory continued, the damage would deepen further.

If the drums of war keep beating, escalation will only make all of this worse. The spiral of death and destruction must stop.

The secretary-general said diplomatic efforts were in progress and should be given room and backing to work. He said those efforts must remain grounded in international law, including the UN Charter.

the space and support to succeed — anchored firmly in international law, including the UN Charter

Guterres also reiterated broader principles he said must guide any response to the crisis. He said disputes should be resolved through peaceful means, and stressed that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all UN member states must be respected.

He further said civilians and civilian infrastructure, including nuclear installations, must be protected, while freedom of navigation should be maintained.

Disputes must be settled peacefully. The sovereignty and territorial inte­grity of all member states must be respected. Civil­ians and civilian infrastructure, including nucl­ear installations, must be respected and protected. And freedom of navigation must be upheld.

His remarks came as the Middle East conflict continued to widen in scope, with the UN chief warning that the risks of a much larger confrontation were increasing and that urgent steps were needed to prevent further escalation.